Cheese for a one-year-old child. When can you give cheese to children? What types of cheese are best for a child?

If you introduce cheese into your child’s diet, it is better to use hard varieties that are low-fat and mild, and do not contain additives, dyes or preservatives. For example, a baby can be given “Maasdam”, 17-20% “Oltermani”, “Russian”, “Poshekhonsky”.

But smoked and processed cheeses are not suitable for children, since they contain a large amount of salts and fats. Varieties with mold should also not be given to your baby, since if such products are consumed, there is a high probability of allergic reactions.

Different types of old cheeses, with mold - all this the child will be able to try when his digestive and enzymatic system is fully formed. He can eat such foods after about 12 years.

Homemade cheese for children

You can try making cheese for your baby yourself. By doing this, you will be sure that this product does not contain any dyes or preservatives.

Here is one of the simplest recipes. Take 1 kilogram of fresh homemade cottage cheese, break it into pieces and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Wrap the resulting mass in gauze and place it in a small container with a wide neck, since you will need to place a press on top of it.

If your choice is a small saucepan, find a lid with a smaller diameter, and place a large saucepan on top, filling it with water. After about 5 hours, drain the separated liquid and change the gauze in which the cottage cheese was placed. Then place it under a heavier press for one day.

When excess liquid comes out of the cheese, place the resulting mass in the refrigerator or cool place for about 2 weeks to ripen. That's all, delicious and healthy cheese is ready!

How much cheese per day can you give your child?

At 1-2 years old, a child can eat no more than 3-5 grams of cheese per day. By 3 years, this amount can be increased to 10 grams. It is best to give cheese to your baby in the first half of the day, since digestive enzymes are most active during this period.

If such a product is unusual or the baby does not like it, first the cheese can be added in grated form to purees, soups, and omelettes. A regular sandwich or toast with cheese can be given to a child after 3 years.

Is it possible to give cheese to a child with an allergy to cow's milk protein?

If you have lactase deficiency or an allergy to cow's milk protein, you should choose the least fatty varieties of cheese. The administration of this product to such children should only be done under the supervision of a physician.

Since casein (milk protein) is broken down during the cheese making process and becomes less allergenic, this product can also be administered to a child with food allergies. Lactose in hard varieties is also contained in minimal quantities, and therefore this product is not contraindicated in case of lactase deficiency.

It happens that young children do not like cottage cheese too much, but for the most part they are partial to cheeses. If you know when and in what form it is best to start giving your child this product, you can provide the child’s body with calcium contained in both types of fermented milk products.

Considering the specifics of the component and the development of the digestive tract in infants, violating the recommended time limits is prohibited. You need to be careful about the dosage of products and pay attention to their quality. Ideally, it is best to offer homemade cheese made from low-fat cottage cheese to very young children.

The benefits of cheese for children's bodies

A natural and environmentally friendly fermented milk product is indicated for consumption by every child, without exception. This is due to the following beneficial properties of the component:

It contains a lot of calcium. Without this substance, normal development of the baby’s bones, teeth, nails and hair is impossible. It is in the first years of life that this microelement is most necessary for children, because their bodies grow and develop very quickly. It is worth considering that calcium is absorbed only if there is vitamin D in the body. You can give it to your child additionally or regularly take him for walks in sunny weather.

Advice: When cheese is given to a baby specifically for the purpose of preventing rickets, it is better to choose hard varieties. For comparison, the amount of calcium in Parmesan is 10 times higher than that in such healthy cottage cheese.

Cheeses are rich in protein. The building material necessary for the production of amino acids (designed to support vital processes) is more easily absorbed by the child’s body when it is contained in cheeses. The main thing to remember is that too much protein is not the goal either. Excessive consumption of cheeses can cause severe stress on the baby’s kidneys.
Regardless of the variety, cheese contains an impressive amount of vitamins. An additional advantage is that these components in the fermented milk product are also well absorbed by the imperfect child’s body. This guarantees the child a strengthened immune system, improved metabolic processes, stimulation of physical activity, and improved overall well-being.

You can expect to receive the listed positive effects by consuming even a small amount of the product. Of course, provided that only natural ingredients were used in its production, and not so popular today milk powder, thickeners, dyes and stabilizers.

Optimal age for introducing an ingredient into a baby’s menu

Answering the question at what age is it best to give children cheese, pediatricians agree on one thing - not earlier than one year (some even think that it is better to wait until 1.5-2 years). This is explained by the high content of protein and animal fats in the product, which put a strong strain on the kidneys. In addition, in the production of most varieties, rennet is used, which forces the baby’s pancreas to work more actively. For children who have reached one year of age, these effects are no longer scary, because... The digestive and excretory systems are sufficiently formed and are not afraid of additional stress.

At the same time, the daily amount of cheese for a child 1-1.5 years old should not exceed 5 g. Gradually increasing this indicator, by 2 years the daily amount can be increased to 20 g. It is not recommended to give cheese to children daily; 2-3 times a week will be enough enough to obtain therapeutic benefits from fermented milk products. When introducing cheese into the diet, special attention should be paid to children prone to dyspeptic disorders. Despite the obvious benefits, the product is quite heavy and at the addiction stage can cause constipation in the little one. Most often this becomes a consequence of eating hard cheeses.

The place of cheese in a small child's diet

Cheeses may only be offered to children under 3 years of age as a dietary supplement. To do this, the component is grated and used for sprinkling on familiar dishes. It is strictly forbidden to combine it with meat. You will also have to give up traditional sandwiches made of white bread, butter and cheese. All of the ingredients listed above contain too much protein and the stress on the kidneys will be excessive.

Take some 5% fat cottage cheese and put it under pressure to get rid of all the excess liquid.
Lightly add salt to the resulting crumbly mixture, place it in a saucepan and place in a water bath.
Constantly stirring the mass, wait until it begins to melt. When the child turns three years old, you can add a little baking soda to the composition to speed up the melting process.
When the workpiece turns into a molten mass, it must be poured into a clean container lined with gauze or a clean thin towel. We place a weight on top and leave the structure for several hours until all the liquid is absorbed into the fabric.

Even if the cottage cheese refuses to melt (this happens if it is not dry enough to begin with), then there is no need to be upset. The curd mass, heated and pressed in the same way, also turns out very tasty and tender. It can be given to your baby with pieces of vegetables or salad leaves.

It will be useful to read the article about

Cheese is a very healthy and tasty product. Most adults are happy to eat a few bites throughout the day. And thanks to its high protein content, cheese will also be useful for children. But which type of this product should you prefer? And at what age can you give your child cheese?

The benefits of cheese

On average, at the age of one year, doctors recommend starting to introduce dairy products into the weekly menu for children. The list of recommended foods includes not only kefir, but also cheese and cottage cheese. These products are necessary for the growing body so that it can develop normally.

Some mothers are afraid to give cheese, preferring various curds, but this is in vain. A high-quality product contains protein, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and a large amount of vitamins, mainly group B. Moreover, cheese contains approximately 10 times more calcium than milk.

Due to its composition, cheese has the following effects on the child’s body:

strengthens bones, nails and hair, as it contains calcium;
protein is involved in tissue formation;
the fatty acids contained in the composition are beneficial for internal organs, brain and skin;
satisfies hunger well;
gives the body the energy it needs to function;
helps to gain weight;
has a positive effect on vision.

Separately, it is necessary to say that cheese, among other products, is involved in the formation of the baby’s correct taste habits. If you do not start feeding him such food in a timely manner, then over time he will begin to be capricious and refuse healthy foods.

Do not be afraid that this is a high-calorie food that will harm the body. Children use up energy very quickly, so it is quite possible for them to consume such products.

Which variety should you prefer?

If you are going to start giving cheese to your child, then you should not skimp on quality. If the body of an adult is able to digest a lot, then for a baby all kinds of dyes and flavors will be harmful. You should also pay attention to the amount of salt in the product, because its excess can lead to increased water consumption and the appearance of edema.

You can start offering your baby hard cheeses, a little sweet, with large holes and with a fat content of no more than 20%. Maasdam is one of these. You can also buy Russian, Poshekhonsky and Oltermani, if you are confident in the manufacturer of these brands.

At what age should a child be given processed cheese? Theoretically, you can also start doing this at the age of one year. But at the same time, it is necessary to find a product on the shelves that does not contain dyes, flavors and other unhealthy additives that can cause allergic reactions. And it will be very difficult to do this.

It is forbidden to feed babies smoked cheeses, which can be produced in the form of sausage or processed cheeses. Processed products such as Druzhba, which come in a foil wrapper, are also prohibited. They contain an excessive amount of salt and a lot of fat. Not all parents know, but most sausage and processed cheeses are made from various waste products.

Blue cheeses can be offered to children starting from school age. Their consumption at an earlier period may cause allergies or skin diseases.

Pediatricians advise starting to introduce cheese into your baby’s diet from Maasdam.

It has a slightly sweet taste that most children like. And this brand is practically not counterfeited.

Do not give preference to vacuum packaging. Usually such a product is unripe and not very tasty. Also, you don’t need to buy cheese that is too cheap, as it often either has problems with its shelf life or is made from low-quality raw materials.

Choosing the wrong food can lead to a child developing an aversion to this product for a long time. It is best to take cheese from a place where you can taste it first. Most often they do this at the market, but now they often organize tastings in stores.

Carefully study the label if you decide to take cheese in its original packaging. If it says cheese product, then the internal content is a surrogate that is best not given to a small child.

So-called pickled cheeses, which include suluguni, feta cheese and the like, are best not given to children under 6 years of age. The fact is that their manufacturing technology involves soaking the product in brine for several days. Such food will be too salty for the baby. You can cut off a small piece and soak it in water for 3 hours, this will make the product almost fresh, but it can be given to children.

When and how to give your child cheese

Some parents, trying to diversify their baby's menu, start giving him cheese before he turns one. But doctors do not recommend doing this.

The fact is that the enzymes that help break down cheese begin to be produced in the gastrointestinal tract only at about a year. Moreover, this age is considered average, and specifically for your child it can begin at 13 months. Therefore, you should not start giving any food before the age recommended by doctors, but at the same time it is necessary to look at the child’s reaction to this product. Maybe it’s worth waiting a little longer.

For a one-year-old child, one slice of cheese per day is enough or, alternatively, a teaspoon of grated cheese. It is advisable to give such food at this age no more than 3 times a week. If the child refuses this piece, then first try feeding him a different type of product, and if this does not help, then you should stop introducing cheese into the menu for a while.

You should not give cheese at the same time as meat. An increased amount of protein can worsen your baby's digestion. It is best to serve this product simultaneously with vegetable or fruit purees.

When a child reaches the age of 3 years, you can start giving him up to 10 g of cheese per day. It is best to do this during breakfast, since during this period the body absorbs protein best. The optimal dish is sandwiches with butter and cheese, as they provide the body with a large amount of essential nutrients.

You can take this sandwich with you on a walk as a snack. It will be healthier than various bars and cookies, and will quickly satisfy your hunger. Grated cheese can be added little by little to most dishes that your baby loves. And almost all children like cream cheese soup.

It is advisable to try to offer even the same products in different shapes or forms. Then the child will not get bored with such food, and taste habits will be formed correctly.

Before you fully start giving your baby cheese, you should test the selected piece and the body’s reaction to this product. On this day, it is necessary to completely exclude from the menu all other unfamiliar and unfamiliar foods. During lunch, a very small piece is cut off, or about a teaspoon is grated on a fine grater.

Feed your child a piece, carefully observing the reaction. If the baby spits and does not want to eat, then there is no need to insist. If you liked the piece and it was completely eaten, then there is no need to give supplements.

Then you need to monitor the condition of the baby for several hours. Does his tummy hurt, or does he have any allergic reactions? If everything is fine, then you can start introducing cheese into the menu. For variety, you can alternate between different varieties.

But if your stool changes or other negative reactions to the piece you eat appear, then you should wait a while with this product. Perhaps the body is simply not ready to consume it yet.

Possible negative consequences

If you accidentally give your little one low-quality cheese, this may affect the condition of his body. But some children cannot be given even good foods, since each organism is individual. Do not add cheese to the menu without consulting a doctor if your baby has:

tendency to quickly gain weight,
negative reaction to fatty foods,
there is a history of gastrointestinal pathologies,
allergies to certain foods.

You should also carefully ensure that the baby does not eat too large portions, since, if unaccustomed to large quantities, even high-quality food can provoke the appearance of an allergic reaction, diarrhea or dermatitis.

Most often, it is not the entire cheese that causes negative reactions, but some of its components. For example, spices or preservatives. So if any symptoms appear, try not to give this particular variety to your baby anymore.

This product is popular among many families. Hard cheese is a concentrated dairy product obtained by fermenting milk and then pressing it.

It's no secret that cheese is a very healthy product, so parents are looking for an answer to their questions about the possibility of introducing cheese into their child's diet. Mothers are interested in at what age this is possible and what kind of cheeses can be given to the child.

Among child nutrition specialists, there are both supporters and opponents of the early introduction of cheese into the diet of babies.

Compound

Hard cheese is the champion among dairy products in terms of calcium content.

Hard cheese is a recognized leader among other dairy products in terms of the amount contained in its composition. So, for example, per 100 g of product contains 120 mg of calcium, cottage cheese – 125 mg, and “Russian” cheese – 1300 mg. This is due to the lower water content in cheese than in other dairy products.

Phosphorus is necessary for the absorption of calcium. Hard cheeses contain phosphorus in an optimal ratio with calcium (2:1), which allows the child’s body to absorb almost all the calcium contained in the cheese.

In addition to these two minerals, which children need so much, hard cheeses contain:

potassium;
sodium;
sulfur;
selenium.

All hard cheeses contain complete proteins (and they also contain essential amino acids) of animal origin. Therefore, their use is especially important for children who do not like to eat meat.

Hard cheeses also contain vitamins: , beta-carotene, PP, vitamins from. In a season with short daylight hours, such a product will provide the child's body with what it needs.

The ingredients in hard cheeses are balanced so well that they help digest each other. For example, iron absorption will be provided by vitamin B 12, which is found only in animal products.

Benefit

Cheese, when consumed correctly, will bring many benefits to your child:

Cheese is a supplier of valuable amino acids, containing the entire set of essential amino acids, which is especially important for a growing child’s body.
The mineral composition will ensure strong bones, tooth enamel, and healthy hair.
Fatty acids are necessary for the normal functioning of the brain and to ensure healthy skin.
Thanks to the antioxidant properties of vitamins E and A, the body is cleansed of toxic substances and radionuclides. Vitamins also help improve general and local immunity.
Eating cheese will satisfy hunger, give a quick feeling of fullness, and serve as a boost of energy for the child.
Chewing hard cheese will contribute to the proper development of the jaw apparatus.
Considering the almost complete digestibility of nutrients, the product is useful for.
Hard cheeses can be consumed by children with age, since during the manufacturing process the product almost completely gets rid of lactose (milk sugar).
The introduction of cheese into the diet makes it possible to diversify a child’s menu and expand his taste sensations.

Harm

Despite many useful qualities, cheeses also have disadvantages:

due to the significant protein content, it is not recommended for children with;
You should include cheese with caution in the diet of a child with pathology of the digestive system, as its consumption can cause;
too frequent use can lead to metabolic disorders and the development of cardiovascular pathologies;
a significant amount of salt in solid varieties can cause fluid retention and impaired renal function;
the high calorie content of the product, if abused, can lead to, and if you are overweight, it is contraindicated;
eating even a small amount of high-fat cheese can cause nausea, discomfort and abdominal pain, and loose stools;
development after consuming the product cannot be ruled out.

At what age and how to introduce it into the diet

The most suitable age for introducing a child to hard cheese is 1-1.5 years.

There are different opinions on this matter: some experts believe it is possible to start giving cheese to infants as early as 9-10 months, others advise delaying its use until 3 years. However, most nutritionists recommend not giving cheese to babies before one year of age.

This is explained by the fact that the insufficiently mature kidneys of infants cannot cope with such a load of proteins and minerals. More cautious pediatricians advise giving the first taste of cheese to a child after 2 years of age, and recommend a daily portion of the product of 5 g until the age of 6, and 15 g for schoolchildren. You can agree with these standards or not, but the use of this product by children should definitely be moderate.

For the first time, cheese (no more than 5 g) should be given to the baby in the first half of the day and observe the reaction of his body.

Allergy symptoms may include:

skin itching;
stool liquefaction;
attacks of difficulty breathing;
temperature increase.

The risk of allergies is especially high in babies under one year of age. If allergy symptoms appear, you should stop giving cheese.

A repeat test can be given after 2-3 years. As the digestive system matures, the intestinal wall will be more resistant to allergens passing through it, the immune system will become more developed, and the risk of developing allergies will decrease.

At a dose of 5 g, you can give your child cheese 2-3 times a week. After one and a half years, a single serving can be gradually increased to 15 g, and after 2 years, the baby can be given 20 g 2-3 times a week.

Children under 4 years of age should be given grated cheese in combination with various dishes. The optimal choice would be Parmesan. This high-quality product, even in small quantities, will significantly improve the taste of any dish. At the same time, there is no need to salt the dish when adding grated cheese to it.

Grated cheese can be added to omelettes, casseroles, and vegetable dishes. It goes well with fruits, and the digestion of foods is not affected. But it is not advisable to combine cheese with a meat dish and butter before the age of 3, in order to avoid overloading the child’s immature digestive tract with proteins and fats.

After 4 years, you can give cheese cut into slices or in the form of sandwiches. Such sandwiches can also be prepared for schoolchildren as snacks.

Types of cheeses

The range of cheeses in stores is quite extensive. Parents should be aware that many types of hard cheese should not be given to young children.

Not suitable for baby food:

Cheeses with mold, since consuming them can lead to poisoning, the development of allergies or a dangerous infectious disease - listeriosis. This is due to the fact that the child’s body may not be able to cope with mold spores or listeria (opportunistic microorganisms). Such varieties should not be given to children until at least 7 years of age, but many nutritionists advise introducing them to children no earlier than 12 years of age.
Smoked cheese. The method of manufacturing the product is harmful to baby food, according to nutritionists and pediatricians, at any age. Therefore, it should not be introduced into the diet of children.
Cheeses that are too spicy. They can have a negative impact on the child’s digestive tract.
Fused. It is not recommended to give children creamy processed cheeses or curds in foil for several reasons. Firstly, they contain a lot of salt and fat. Secondly, they are made from production waste or spoiled cheese.
Pickled varieties, for example, feta, cheese, Adyghe. During production, these cheeses are kept in brine for a long time, so they contain excess salt, which is harmful to the body. They are not suitable for children's food until at least 12 years of age.
With various additives, for example, pepper (will irritate the digestive tract) or (will increase the fat content of the product).
Cheese product. This is a pseudo-cheese, a surrogate that may taste no different from good cheese, but it cannot be called cheese. Usually, in order to reduce the cost, ingredients that are harmful to children are introduced into its composition. One of these components is palm oil (with which manufacturers replace milk fat), which can be harmful to a child’s health. This product cannot be recommended for baby food.
Fatty cheeses with a fat percentage above 45%. These include “Russian”, “Gouda”, “Eden”, etc.

"Ricotta";
"Cheddar";
"Maasdam";
"Oltermani";
"Mozzarella".

How to choose?

When buying cheese for a child, you must pay attention to the release date, expiration date and composition of the product. Cheese should not contain emulsifiers, flavorings, flavor enhancers, dyes or other additives. The fat content of cheese should not exceed 30-35%.

The packaging must be intact. It is not advisable to buy products for children in polystyrene (PS) packaging; polypropylene (PP) packaging is best. It is not recommended for a child to buy cheap cheese or on sale - this is usually a product of low quality, unripe or expired. You should be aware that the shelf life of sliced cheese is much shorter than that of a whole head.

Before giving cheese to your child, you need to pay attention to its smell and taste it. If it is too salty, then you need to fill it with cold water and leave it for a couple of hours, changing the water several times during this time. Of course, the taste of the product will change, but the product will not have a negative effect on the child’s body.

Cheese at home

The safest and healthiest cheese for a child, prepared at home by the caring hands of a mother.

To be sure of the quality of the cheese, mom can prepare it herself. The resulting product will taste like the traditional version of hard cheese, but it will definitely not contain harmful components.

Stages of making homemade cheese:

mash 700 g and place it in a saucepan;
pour 1 liter of milk into the pan;
Heat the contents over low heat with constant stirring until the thick mass and whey separate;
Place the resulting curd mass in a gauze bag and allow the whey to drain;
In a saucepan, carefully mix 2 eggs, 2 tbsp. l. butter, 2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. soda;
add the discarded curd mass to the mixture;
Stir the resulting mixture until a homogeneous mass without white grains is formed;
Place the prepared mixture in a mold and place in the refrigerator to harden.

Summary for parents

Hard cheeses are a healthy product, but they should not be introduced into children's diets earlier than one year of age. Not all varieties can be consumed by children, as they have different composition and fat content.

Like many other “goodies,” many parents want to quickly introduce hard cheese into their child’s diet. No one argues about the usefulness of such a product for adults. But you shouldn’t rush to introduce it to kids: experts don’t have a consensus on the timing of introducing hard cheese into baby food. Most of them believe that this product should not be given to babies until they are one year old.

Children under 4 years of age should be offered grated hard cheese in addition to other foods.

Cheese is a concentrated dairy product obtained by fermentation and subsequent pressing.

This is both a tasty and healthy product:

It is the leader among dairy products in terms of content. If 100 g contains 125 mg of calcium, 100 ml of milk contains 120 mg, then 100 g of hard Russian cheese contains 1300 mg of this mineral, which is important for the child’s body.
Other microelements include sodium, potassium, and in small quantities selenium.
Cheese contains essential amino acids that do not enter the body with plant foods.
The amount of milk fat depends on the type and fat content of the product. A high percentage of fat in cheese will cause digestive problems in children due to imperfect development of the digestive system.
Solid varieties contain vitamins: beta-carotene, PP,. The absorption of iron ensures the presence of vitamin B 12 (cobalamin).

Is cheese good or bad for a child?

Hard cheese has many beneficial properties. What is important is the ability of the protein contained in it to be absorbed better than from cottage cheese or milk. Hard cheese can be a source of protein for children who do not want to consume meat and milk.

It is known that calcium is absorbed in the presence of phosphorus in the product, and in a ratio of 2:1. This condition is also ensured in cheese. Both microelements are important for the formation of the skeletal system.

But this valuable product also has disadvantages:

Cheese is a fatty product that can put a significant burden on the digestive system.
The significant content in cheese is also not harmless to the child’s body, so it should not be given to the baby uncontrollably.
Like any dairy product, cheese can cause. There should be no rush to introduce this product to children with a tendency to allergies.

How and when to give hard cheese to babies?

Opinions on the timing of introducing hard cheese into baby food vary:

Some pediatricians and nutritionists believe that it is a difficult-to-digest product for a child’s immature digestive system. In their opinion, it is undesirable to give hard cheese to children under 3 years of age.
Proponents of early introduction suggest giving it to children after one year of age if the baby is able to chew solid foods. There are even proposals for the first samples of cheese in tiny amounts at 10 or 11 months.

Opinions also differ regarding the daily intake of the product:

Some advise giving only 5 g of cheese to children under 6 years old, and 15 g to schoolchildren, motivating their point of view with the high fat content.
Other experts believe that the initial portion for a child at 10-11 months should be 5 g, and after a year it can be increased to 20 g per day.

Each child needs an individual approach. It is better for mothers to consult with the pediatrician who is monitoring the child about the timing of introducing cheese into the baby’s menu, and about its amount in the daily diet.

If your baby doesn’t like the cheese, then you shouldn’t persistently offer him this product. You can try again at an older age.

Children under 4 years old can be given grated hard cheese along with other products: omelet, vegetable puree, porridge. In this case, the dish does not need to be salted - the salt contained in the cheese will be enough. The little gourmet should like the new taste of the dish.
Cheese is recommended for children under 3 years old only 2-3 times a week, so as not to create excessive stress on the digestive organs. It is better to give vegetables or noodles with grated cheese in the morning.

The fat content of cheese should be taken into account when choosing a diet for older children in the case of both (i.e., underweight and overweight).

Which cheese is better to choose?

There are many varieties of hard cheese. Some of them are undesirable for children to use, while others are completely contraindicated.

The assortment of hard cheeses in stores is quite rich. Not all of them can be consumed by children. Let's figure out which hard cheeses are suitable for children, and which ones are not recommended.

You should not buy cheese surrogates for children (another name for them is “cheese product”). Vegetable fats in their composition almost completely replace milk fat. These products are difficult to distinguish from cheese by taste. In addition to not being beneficial, they can have harmful effects on the digestive system.
Blue cheese is also not suitable for baby food: the mold spores and opportunistic listeria present in it (a bacterium that can cause disease under certain conditions) can cause digestive disorders or pathology of lymphoid tissue. Mold cheeses pose a risk of allergic reactions.
It is not advisable for children to consume smoked cheese or processed cheese for the simple reason that manufacturers in most cases use hard spoiled cheese or waste from its production with the addition of salt, flavorings, and flavorings as raw materials. For a smoked taste, liquid smoke is added - a very strong allergen. In addition, it is high in salt and high in fat. These varieties can only be given to school-age children.

You should also not buy too sharp and salty varieties of cheese for your child. It is necessary to carefully study the label indicating the composition of the product.

Too salty varieties are suluguni and feta cheese.
Cheeses with the indication “pickled cheese”, for example, Adygei, are also not suitable for small children. Their use may adversely affect kidney function.
Cheddar, Mozzarella, Ricotta have less salt - these varieties can be offered to children after 6 years.
It is advisable to choose cheese with a fat content of no higher than 30-35%. In the widespread varieties Edam, Gouda, and Cream, the fat content ranges from 42 to 70%, so it is not recommended to use them in the diet of children under 6 years of age.
Mild, unsalted Lithuanian cheeses, Poshekhonsky, and Dutch, are more suitable for children.
Preference when purchasing should be given to Parmesan cheese produced using special technology: elite cheese is least likely to contain cheap, low-quality chemical additives that are harmful to children. In addition, this variety is a leader in calcium content.

Special cheeses for baby food would also be an ideal option. They have low fat content, reduced salt and mineral content.

In addition, special lactose-free and low-fat cheese is produced for children. However, sometimes it is too salty. (In this case, it is recommended to soak it in water.)

The date of manufacture and the permissible period of use should not escape the attention of parents. The storage conditions of the product are also important: sliced cheese has a shorter shelf life than a whole head.

Summary for parents

A healthy and tasty product, such as hard cheese, is best introduced into the diet of children aged 10-12 months, starting with a tiny amount (5 g). It is added to other dishes.

It is important to choose the right variety that is optimal in terms of fat and salt content for the baby. Cheese is a wonderful source of calcium and phosphorus, vitamins, and easily digestible protein.